Grappling device for merchandise



Sept. 24, 1929. R. s. DART GRAPPLING DEVICE FOR MERCHANDISE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1928 miifizf" Sept. 24, 1929. R. .s. DARTGRAPPLING DEVICE FOR MERCHANDISE Filed June 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES RUSSEL S DART, OF BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS GRAPPLING DEVICE FOR MERCHANDISE Application filed. June25,

My invention is designed for hoisting and moving heavy bodies andespecially those of cylindrical form such as large metal pipe, reels ofwire or metal tubing, baled goods, and the like.

My invention consists of a curved frame forming an are approximately thesame as that of the body to be hoisted or moved and adapted to open andclose without spreading laterally.

It is important that a device for this purpose should be compact andthat in grappling or releasing a given body in a group the ad jacentbodies should not interfere with its operation. It is obvious that adevice which is caused to spread in order to grasp or release the bodyto be hoisted or moved may be obstructed in its operation by contactwith ad jacent bodies, and would also require additional space for suchoperation.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention, Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of my device in position for grasping a cylindrical body. Fig.2 is a front elevation of my device in the same position as in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing an object grasped by the device andsuspended from the ground. Fig. 4; is a sectional view on the line XX inFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line YY in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 5 is a curved metal frame having alongitudinal groove 6 formed in each edge thereof. The groove 6 is showncontinuous; it is obvious that it would function substantially the sameif it consisted of a series of short grooves in the same are as thecontinuous groove shown. 7, 7 are curved plates adapted to slide freelyin the grooves 6, 6. 8 is a hook secured to the frame and adapted toengage the connection with a crane or other machinery for hoisting ormoving heavy objects. 9, 9 are chains or cables connecting the curvedplates 7, 7 with the ring 10. 11, 11 are stops to limit the upwardmovement of the curved plates 7, 7.

The operation of my invention is as follows :Preparatory to grasping acylindrical or other form of object for which it is adapted, my deviceis suspended by means of the ring 10 upon the load hook of a crane orother 1928. Serial No. 287,978.

machinery employed for that purpose. It is apparent that when the deviceis thus suspended the weight of the frame would cause the curved plates7, 7 to rest in contact with the stops 11, 11. At the upper end of eachcurved plate 7 is a stop 12 which contacts with the rib 13 at the lowerend of the frame 5 and thereby limits the downward movement of eachcurved plate 7. The arm of the crane is lowered until the device firstrests upon the cylindrical object 14:, and then continues to lower andto permit the curved plates 7, 7 to slide in an inwardly curved path andto grasp the obJect so that it may be securely held while being hoistedor moved. The operator then engages the ring 10 with the hook 8 and thedevice is ready to be raised and to hoist or otherwise move the objectin its grasp.

The fundamental feature of my invention consists of the curved framecombined with a palr of curved members slidably mounted thereon. It isobvious that many variations from the details of the structuresdescribed and shown to illustrate my invention may be made withoutdeparting from its essential features and it is understood that suchvariations are within the scope of my invention so long as saidfundamental feature is embodied therein.

What I 'claim and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent is:

1. In a grappling device a semi-circular shell combined with means forhoisting it, and suspended therefrom with its axis lying inapproximately a horizontal plane, com bined with a pair of curvedmembers mounted in guides upon the surface of said shell and adapted toslide downwardly therein and to extend beyond the edges of said shell.

2. In a grappling device a semi-circular shell combined with means forhoisting it, and suspended therefrom with its axis lying inapproximately a horizontal plane, combined with a pair of curved membersmounted in guides upon the surface of said shell, having substantiallythe same are as the surface of said shell, and adapted to slidedownwardly therein and to extend beyond the edges of said shell.

' 3. In a grappling device a semi-circular shell combined with means forhoisting it, nected with the upper ends of said curved and suspendedtherefrom with its axis lying members.

in approximately a horizontal plane, com- In testimony whereof I havehereunto set bined with a pair of curved members mountmy hand this 11thday of June, 1928.

ed in guides upon the surface of said shell, RUSSEL S. DART. s

having substantially the same are as the surface of said shell, andadapted to slide downwardly therein and to extend beyond the edges ofsaid shell, and means to limit the 1 downward movement of said curvedmembers.

4. In a grappling device a semi-circular shell combined with means forhoisting it, and suspended therefrom with its axis lying 15 inapproximately a horizontal plane, comso bined with a pair of curvedmembers mounted in guides upon the surface of said shell havingsubstantially the same are as the surface of said shell, and adapted toslide downwardly therein and to extend beyond the edges of said shell,and means to limit the upward movement of said curved members.

5. In a grappling device a semi-circular shell combined with means forhoisting it,

and suspended therefrom with its axis lying 90 in approximately ahorizontal plane, combined with a pair of curved members mounted inguides upon the surface of said shell,

having substantially the same are as the surface of said shell, saidcurved members being 95 adapted to slide freely in said guides andnormally extending beyond the lower edges of said shell, and stops tolimit the upward and downward movements of said curved members. 10(

6. In a grappling device a semi-circular shell combined with means forhoisting it, and suspended therefrom with its axis lying inapproximately a horizontal plane, com- I bined with a pair of curvedmembers mounted and confined in guides upon the surface of said shell,having substantially the same are as the surface of said shell, andadapted to slide downwardly therein and to extend beyond the edges ofsaid shell.

7. In a grappling device a semi-circular shell combined with means forhoisting it, and suspended therefrom with its axis lying inapproximately a horizontal plane, combined with a pair of curved membersmounted in guides upon the surface of said shell and adapted to slidedownwardly therein and to extend beyond the edges of said shell, and

5 means; for suspending said shell connected with the upper ends of saidcurved members.

8. In a grappling device a semi-circular shell combined with means forhoisting it, and suspended therefrom with its axis: lying;

in approximately a horizontal plane, com- 15 bined with a pair of curvedmembers mount ed in guides upon the surface of said shell and adapted toslide downwardly therein and to extend beyond the edges of said shell,and .i flexible means for suspending said shell con- 1:

